The crucial questions

May 14, 2009 — 10.00am

Tracy Grimshaw: Trish - how did you react when told seven years ago?

Trish Johns: "I was completely shocked. It was extremely out of character for Matt. I was horrified and disgusted and shocked that he would have been involved. He told me, very specifically, every last detail of his involvement. I believed him. My inquisition went on for months and possibly years. We did the rebuilding the past seven years. If anything, this recent event has actually brought us closer. His greatest crime is actually being unfaithful to me as his wife. I feel it is only for me to judge him on that."

TG: Trish - why are you here?

Trish: "I'm here because I know the truth of what happened. Matthew told me that seven years ago, when it all happened initially. I believed him then and we have worked through that over the years. Part of that was him being so blatantly honest with me about everything that happened that evening. I just want to be here to support him."

TG: Trish - does Matt have some rebuilding to do?

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Trish: "Not so much, I don't think. We did the rebuilding of the past seven years. I think if anything this recent event has actually just brought us closer."

TG: Matt - feelings about the New Zealand woman?

Matthew Johns: "I've just seen the footage of the Four Corners program. I can see the fragile state that the woman is in. Any trauma and embarrassment she has gone through as the result of this incident I am extremely sorry for. I'm extremely sorry to my wife and my family as well, just the embarrassment and the pain it's caused them. It caused my wife enormous pain seven years ago and it's caused her enormous pain and public embarrassment now, seven years later."

TG: Matt - what happened?

Johns: "Without trying to cause any more embarrassment to the girl, I was there on the night and I did see what happened. At no point did she object, at any stage, to what was going on. Seven years ago, when the incident went on, the woman was a willing participant. It's something that I regret, it's something I think all parties, including her, regret now. I've never blamed anyone but myself. I take full responsibility for the predicament that I find myself in. I did not commit an act of abuse on that woman. I am guilty of infidelity to my wife and guilty of absolute stupidity. Morally it is wrong and I am aware of that."

TG: Matt - what now?

Johns: "I have got to get away and make it up to my wife and make it up to my family. Everybody has something in their life they regret and would love to rewind and take away and this is mine."

TG: Matt, you weren't the only person in that room?

Johns: "I was totally unaware that other people were coming into the room. At the point they did, I stepped away from it. She encouraged players to come forward. She actually said words [to the effect of] will someone come forward and have sex with me? One player said he would and she said no, no, anyone but you, at which point she pointed at me again. I declined … and stepped out of the room. At no time was she under any distress. On the night, when she came back to the room, she was a willing participant in everything that occurred. I feel great sorrow for the pain and sorrow she's felt in the aftermath of that. But again I have to say, she was a willing participant in everything that occurred."

This is an edited extract of Tracy Grimshaw's interview with Matthew and Trish Johns on A Current Affair last night.